Locations

Locations

Briarcrest · Highroot · Fort Ashvale · Sylora's Roost

🏘️ Briarcrest (Hub Village)

Briarcrest Occupied Border Village
Campaign Hub Occupied Living Barrier

Overview

Split village on the border between Verdanya and Ironhold territory. Protected by a living thorn wall maintained by Elder Rowan. Garrison of 20-30 Ironhold soldiers occupies western quarter. Tense but functional coexistence.

🌙 Atmosphere: Constant low-level tension. Soldiers patrol. Locals avoid eye contact. The thorn wall whispers at night. Bioluminescent flowers light the streets during week-long twilight.

Layout

  • West Quarter: Ironhold garrison, barracks, checkpoint, Sergeant Greymark's office
  • East Quarter: Verdanya locals, Elder Rowan's grove, Nessa's Bakery, market square
  • Living Wall: 12-foot thorn barrier surrounding village, failing (2 weeks until collapse)
  • Central Square: Neutral ground, well, message board, Briartongue's shrine

Key NPCs

  • Elder Rowan Knotwise: Village leader, maintains wall
  • Sergeant Daven Greymark: Garrison commander
  • Nessa Bramwell: Baker, double agent
  • Briartongue's Herald: Shrine keeper

Important Locations

  • Nessa's Bakery: Secret tunnel to basement cache (rebel supplies)
  • Elder's Grove: Ancient trees, ritual site for wall maintenance
  • Garrison: Ironhold soldiers, weapons, horses, supplies
  • Wickling Temple Ruins: 30 minutes north, Kael Ashborn hiding here

Threats

  • Verdant Wolves attack weekly (coordinated, intelligent)
  • Thorn wall failing (Elder exhausted, needs Moonbloom petals)
  • Soldiers vs. locals tension (could erupt into violence)

🌲 Highroot (Rebel Base)

Highroot Treetop Rebel Village
Rebel Base Heavily Defended 200 Feet Up

Overview

Secret treetop village 200 feet above ground, built into massive ancient trees. Home to ~200 rebels and refugees. 4-5 days north of Briarcrest through Verdant Curse territory. Near Sylora's Roost.

🌿 Atmosphere: Whispers of wind through leaves. Glowing moss paths. Platforms suspended by living vines. Beautiful and dangerous. Sentries everywhere. Verdant-Born walk freely here.

Layout

  • Lower Platforms (50-100 ft): Sentries, traps, hidden from ground
  • Mid Platforms (100-150 ft): Living quarters, storage, Briar's command post
  • Upper Platforms (150-200 ft): Thornwraith's hidden platform at summit
  • Ascent: Rope ladders, vine bridges, pulley lifts (all can be cut)

Defenses

  • Sentries with bows at every level
  • Thorn traps and alarm vines
  • Trained Verdant-Born guardians
  • Can drop all access routes in seconds
  • Hostile to anyone wearing Ironhold colors

Key NPCs

  • The Thornwraith / Elara Thornheart: Leader
  • Briar: Second-in-command, gatekeeper
  • Various Refugees: Families fleeing occupation
  • Verdant-Born: Those who embraced transformation

Accessing Highroot

Party must either:

  • Prove they're not Ironhold spies (Briar's test)
  • Be vouched for by Nessa or Kael
  • Sneak in (very difficult, combat likely)
  • Negotiate from ground (convince sentries to lower ropes)

⚔️ Fort Ashvale

Fort Ashvale Ironhold Military Fort
Ironhold Mourning Rose Fields

Overview

Ironhold military fort guarding Mourning Rose flower fields (cure for Ashlung). Recently raided by Briar (supply theft). Frequent attacks by Verdant-Born creatures.

Key NPCs

  • Quartermaster Davos: Witnessed supply theft, saw Drakona with antlers
  • Fort Commander: Paranoid about inside help for rebels

Intel Available

  • Briar stole climbing gear and rope
  • Inside help suspected (someone left gate unlocked)
  • Mourning Roses harvested here (cure ingredient)

🏛️ Sylora's Roost

Sylora's Roost Faint Divinity Shrine
Sacred Site Guarded

Overview

Ancient shrine to Sylora, The Verdant Sovereign (goddess of seasons). Contains Sylora's Spring Eye. Near Highroot. Guarded by Verdant-Born and Faint Divinity manifestations.

Thornwraith's Plan

Steal Spring Eye from shrine to trigger endless winter and end Verdant Curse (but cause mass starvation).

Path 3 Resolution

If party recovers BOTH eyes (Spring + Winter) and returns them to Sylora, natural seasons restore and both crises become solvable.

🏰 Ironhold (Capital)

Ironhold Walled City
Capital Ashlung Plague

Overview

Walled city-state. Citizens turning to stone from Ashlung plague. Started war to harvest Mourning Roses. Houses Varen Grimm's vault (contains Sylora's Winter Eye).

Key Locations

  • Varen's Office: Campaign start, briefing location
  • Archives: Stolen book about Sylora's Eyes
  • Vault: Path 3 heist target, contains Winter Eye

🌿 The Verdant Curse (Wilderness)

Verdant Curse Territory Corrupted Wilderness
Wilderness Corrupted

Overview

Vast wilderness corrupted by endless spring. Plants and animals mutating. Beautiful and horrifying. 4-5 day journey from Briarcrest to Highroot through this terrain.

🌸 Atmosphere: Silver veins pulse through bark. Flowers bloom from bones. Moss moves like breath. Whispers in the wind. Beauty turned monstrous. Week-long sunsets cast everything in crimson and gold.

Threats

  • Verdant Wolves: Coordinated packs with moss and thorns
  • Verdant-Born Creatures: Bears, deer, birds - all mutated
  • Faint Divinities: Briartongue, Mellifer, Moonpetal (unpredictable)
  • Ironhold Patrols: May attack party on sight
  • Rebel Scouts: Testing strangers

Verdant Corruption Mechanics

Severe damage from Verdant-Born creatures = gain Wither Token. Roll Fear die each time: if result ≤ tokens, permanent transformation begins.

🗺️ Travel Times

Distances